Cholesterol is essential for many functions in the body, but too much of it, especially LDL cholesterol (often called “bad” cholesterol), can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
To keep cholesterol levels under control, doctors often prescribe statins, which work by reducing cholesterol production in the liver.
Statins are widely used and effective, but they’re not suitable for everyone.
Some people experience muscle and joint pain as side effects, making it difficult to continue taking the medication.
In other cases, statins alone don’t lower cholesterol enough, leaving patients searching for alternative treatments.
A new drug, bempedoic acid, offers hope for those who can’t tolerate statins or need additional cholesterol-lowering options.
Research presented at ENDO 2023, a major endocrinology conference, showed that bempedoic acid is an effective alternative for reducing cholesterol and lowering the risk of heart disease.
The CLEAR Outcomes Trial focused on patients who couldn’t take statins due to side effects. The results were encouraging: bempedoic acid lowered LDL cholesterol by 21% and reduced the risk of heart-related problems by 13%. Further analysis found that its benefits were similar to those of statins in preventing heart disease.
This discovery is significant for people who have struggled with cholesterol management due to statin intolerance. Dr. A. Michael Lincoff, one of the study’s lead researchers, emphasized the importance of having multiple treatment options for heart disease, the world’s leading cause of death.
Bempedoic acid’s success highlights the ongoing progress in medical research and offers a new choice for those needing cholesterol control. For patients unable to take statins or requiring extra help to lower their cholesterol, this drug provides an alternative that could improve heart health and save lives.
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